2009 Reunion

Fort Sill, OK

October 10 - 12, 2009

By: Jack Stroud

Well we finally made it back to Fort Sill for our 2009 Reunion and our 10th Anniversary of the Association.  I must say we really had a great turn out and a wonderful overall Reunion this year.  It was a great sight to see all of the wives who were there and enjoyed themselves, I know because my wife told me so.  We selected a new President this year who will lead us on for the next two years, and I know Tom is a very capable person, he lead me by the hand at the start, and then threw me under the bus.  I am kidding, Tom was a great support for me when I had a problem and this is his second tour as President.  In addition, Richard Flowers was elected 1st Vice President and Charles Garner was elected 2nd Vice President. Both were also elected for two year terms.

I had a lot of local help setting up our reunion at Fort Sill .  I stopped by and spoke to the manager on my way to a family reunion to make the hotel arrangements and talked directly with LTC Todd Wasmund to get the live fire permission ahead of time.  LTC Wasmund did some training schedule shifting to make it possible for the fun for all those happy faces seen back at the hospitality room.  It was Norman Jones who worked with the lady in the information office who set up the tour of Fort Sill .  The tour began with a great in briefing by Fort Sill 's Garrison Command Sergeant Major.  He was a real hoot. 

The members of the association are also grateful to LTC Todd Wasmund, CSM Philip Brunwald and the officers and men of the 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery for allowing us to visit them in the field and observed their firing of the M777 Howitzers. Some of the wives got a chance to see just how difficult it was to fire one of the guns.  Some of our veterans were allowed to pull off a round our two, and I thought that was above and beyond expectations.  We had a couple of veterans had to leave early due to family emergencies or a death in their families, but we all were glad we had made the trip this year.  

Norm Jones had one of his famous "Texas Smoke Outs" after our day of fun and sun.  I can and must say that those were the best burgers and sausages I have had, the food was great again and it did not rain one day while we were there.  It was a little chilly in the evening, but great weather the entire time we were there.  LTC Wasmund and his staff and troops were invited to join us and we had a great turnout and camaraderie that night.  

So as my term as President has come to an end I thank all of you who had contributed to me not dropping the ball to many times and supporting everything that we accomplished during my time.  Thank you one and all for allowing me to hold that position even if I was not a REDLEG.

CLICK ON THUMBNAIL IMAGE TO MAKE LARGER

17th Artillery Classroom	Albert Ryan, Life member	Annette and Larry Hightower	Bruce Latour, June & Gil Bernabe, Wallace & Trudy bates, Jerry & Joanna Cody, Tom Kurtz
Charles Garner	Col John Fant	Cookout L-R Norman Jones, Richard Flowers	Fort Sill Museum
Group in the Hospitality room	Wallace Bates firing the M777	Dining with the 1/17th Artillery	Donald Brooks by the 105mm
Donald Brooks	Doug Runice firing the M777	Gerald Brown, Lonnie & Peggy English	Group picture of Association members
Jack Picciolo	James Sanders	Jerry Cody	Larry Hightower, Life member
Larry Hightower, Brenda Lovejoy, Charles Garner Margie Wallace	L-R Albert Ryan, Neal Fouts. Jackie Stroud, John Melasecca Jr, Steven Schlicher	L-R Donald Brooks & Francis Rash	L-R John Melasecca Jr. & Steven Schlicher
John Melasecca Jr. and Neal Fouts	L-R June Bernbabe, Margie Wallace, Annette Jones, Annette Hightower, Brenda Lovejoy, Jean Sanders, Phyllis Flowers	Terry Wallace, Neal Fouts	LTC Wasmund, CSM Brunwald
Mike Klingeman	Norman Jones firing the M777	CSM Brunwald	Richard Siebe
Richard Smith firing the M777	Rod Guerrero	Roy Korkalo, Life member	Steve Gerhardt, Mike & Peggy Dages, Doug Runice
Tom Kurtz presenting a $1,000.	Vee & Gerald Brown	William Dahlin, Life member